Demolition plans for deteriorating student accommodation flats

The two student blocks near Fairfax Street have been approved by the city council to be brought down due to “significant structural defects requiring immediate demolition”, according to the university’s structure report.

Block G and Block H’s tower on Fairfax Street of Coventry University’s Priory Hall accommodation were found to be insecure back in 2014.

The report tells of loose concrete in the bathroom ceilings and a metre-wide gap in the ceiling where concrete had fallen to show corrosion in the building’s infrastructure.

Another report by Couch Consulting Engineers states: “in some areas the corrosion was so severe that steel reinforcing bars had completely disintegrated and could be crumbled by hand”.

Source: Couch Consulting Engineers

They further described the blocks as having “no viable future” due to the inefficiency of short-term repairs.

The development company Turnberry has said: “the structural deterioration of Priory Hall is not the result of any deliberate neglect on the part of the University but is rather the result of the blocks’ original construction methods”.

The two blocks were originally constructed in the 60s and 70s with speed and low cost in mind, made from grey aggregate precast concrete panels.

The area will be temporarily landscaped once the buildings have been deconstructed to allow time for a permanent development made by the university and city stakeholders.